W. Steve Cochran
December 30, 2003

(Editor's note: This letter was addressed to Denny O'Brien.)

I could not agree with you more (regarding Pirate Notebook No. 165).  I have said several times that ECU has had approximately 90% of it's scholarship football players from NC, VA and SC, for the past 40 years. Since the days of Coach Jack Boone, we have won with players from these areas. We will not win getting the "leftovers" from Florida.

I support hiring assistant coaches with ECU ties who can recruit from the above mentioned areas. Pat Dye, Ed Emory, Bill Lewis and Steve Logan won with players who were predominantly from the Carolinas and Virginia.

Go Pirates!

W. Steve Cochran (ECU '63)
Pinehurst, NC

Gary Coffman
December 27, 2003

Keith LeClair's article (From The Dugout, 12.25.03) was very insightful.  It educated me as a fan in a way where I could get an inside perspective of the overall strategies of an ongoing baseball program, something most "season to season" fans do not get.

Please do the same type of articles on basketball and football as well. (And archive them for future reference.) I believe this type of journalism offers real value to your readers.

Thanks again.

Gary Coffman
Palmetto, FL

Jack Snypes
December 26, 2003

In reference to the Dec. 26 article about Jeff Kerr becoming the strength coach for the Pirate football team, the comments by Jeff Connors bother me.

First off, I will forever be indebted as a Pirate fan for the hard work and dedication Jeff Connors gave us during his years at ECU. The fact that he is a Pirate Club member speaks even louder on his behalf. While no one has all the facts on the new position, it strikes me as self serving chatter by Mr. Connors to question if ECU is going to de-emphasize football with this move, when UNC-Chapel Hill has strength coaches for basketball, football and the Olympic Sports.

Has it occurred to Mr. Connors that maybe, just maybe, ECU is trying to expand its strength program? It's well known that Jim Whitten is doing a fine job, but he can't do it all and shouldn't have to.

If Jeff Kerr is qualified, also questioned by Connors, then he should be on the short list for the job and ECU should figure out a way to make it appealing financially. During the 1990's at ECU there is no question that two of our best motivators were Jeff Connors and Jeff Kerr. Over the last few years, I haven't felt we had the emotional, in-your-face-leadership that these two men brought to our program.

We now have the opportunity to get a great one back. ECU's gain could be Jeff Connors' loss. Let's always be thankful we had Jeff Connors and let's all get behind Jeff Kerr for this new position.

Go Pirates!

Jack Snypes (ECU '80)
Charlotte, NC

Jimmy Williams
December 21, 2003

In explaining why he was leaving the East Carolina football program, Coach Stockstill said that he missed the 85,000 fans on football Saturdays. I'll bet that the ECU faithful won't miss the 18 points a game Coach Stockstill's anemic offensive scheme generated.

Jimmy Williams (ECU '78)
Swansboro, NC

Julie Corbett
December 21, 2003

A recent quote in the Greenville News from Rick Stockstill stated that the reason he was leaving ECU was to "be a part of a big time program." Actually, ECU did have a "big time program" before he came. I, along with many other fans, am glad to say good riddance to him, his arrogant attitude, and his lack of skill. USC is an appropriate place for him.

Julie Corbett
Tamassee, SC

Mark Pickard
December 12, 2003

In regards to Al Myatt's column on a "Quick Fix" for the Pirates, I for one hope this isn't the case. As a 22-year fan of the Pirates, I would like to see a quick fix as much as anyone, but restocking a program with Juco's with one and two years of eligibility is not the answer.

We should continue to focus on high school recruits and rebuild this program from the ground up. This may result in another losing season or two, but I believe the long-term effects will outweigh any short term win-at-all costs strategy.

We all love the Pirates, but lets be realistic in our situation, take the long view, and win down the road with class, and with four-year student athletes. Most quick fixes are fleeting and short lived. I hope that's not the road we take in Pirate land.

Go Pirates!

Mark Pickard
Raleigh, NC

Mike and Gay Dougherty
December 7, 2003

(Editor's note: This letter was addressed to Denny O'Brien.)

We read your article on the All-Star Voting.  We appreciate your support for Ryan and just wanted to let you know.  Of course being his parents we are very proud of Ryan but it is nice to know that others see his ability and it's not just us.  We as parents tend to be a little biased where our kids are concerned.

Anyway, thank you again for supporting Ryan and also thank Bonesville for the awesome job they do.  Hopefully, J.T. can turn this program around so next year you will be writing about the amazing turn around!  Go Pirates!.

Mike and Gay Dougherty
Parents of  #10
Orlando, FL

John B. Dunn, Jr.
December 8, 2003

This is a response to Philip Garvin’s letter dated December 4, 2003. I also agree that Henry Hinton’s article about the firing of college coaches is right on point. However, I am appalled that anyone, especially an ECU graduate, would advocate that ECU fans boycott the Pirate Club because they object to a coaching change. The Pirate Club is responsible for assisting with the funding of scholarships awarded to student athletes — all student athletes, not just football players.

Currently ECU is unable to fully fund all scholarships allowed by the NCAA for the school’s 16 men’s and women’s sports. For 2002-03, only 85% of the scholarships allowed by the NCAA were awarded. The Pirate Club provided the funding for 76% of those scholarships (approximately $2,700,000). At this time, only football and men’s and women’s basketball are fully funded. Football is the only sport that makes a profit. All other sports operate in the red. It is also important to note that some of the schools ECU currently competes against are fully funded.

Despite the current situation, the Pirate Club has more than 8,000 members and is on pace to provide almost $3,000,000 for scholarships in 2003-04. However, the Pirate Club must continue to grow if ECU is going to compete. Each year it takes more money to provide the same number of scholarships because these costs increase. If you want ECU to compete at the highest level you must continue to support the Pirate Club. If you are an ECU fan and are not a member of the Pirate Club you should be. You can join for as little as $75. ECU needs your support now more than ever.

Finally, if you don’t like a decision made by East Carolina University contact the appropriate people and let them hear about it. The Chancellor, Athletic Director and members of the Board of Trustees are all available to you. Let them know how you feel. As ECU grads we all get frustrated with decisions that are made from time to time because we have a vested interest in seeing the university succeed. However, if you really want ECU to field strong athletic teams you must support the Pirate Club because it supports the student athletes. Without student athletes ECU can’t compete.

John B. Dunn, Jr. (ECU '86)
President – Pitt County Pirate Club
Greenville, NC

Editor's note: Mr. Dunn's letter exceeds our published guideline that letters be limited to no more than 350 words. In this case, we made an exception. Such exceptions for the sake of retaining a letter's theme are made solely at the discretion of the editor.

Dave Englert
December 8, 2003

Phillip Garvin’s passionate December 4, 2003 letter concerning a recent Henry Hinton article about firing college coaches has an understandable sentiment but is seriously misguided.

Yes, many ECU fans wish Steve Logan had not been fired. I include myself in that group. However, withholding funds from the Pirate Club will not bring Logan back. In fact, doing so will only harm the primary goal of all Pirate Club members, which is to help ECU field competitive teams by funding scholarships.

The Pirate Club can and should do nothing to influence the hiring and firing of football coaches. That would lead to perpetual chaos at ECU or any other institution. No coach of any quality would want to work here under those conditions, including Logan. The fundraising and “friend” raising done by the Pirate Club is a full time job, one done quite well by a small staff.

The Chancellor and Athletic Director are responsible for hiring coaches, and I assume Mr. Garvin is aware these positions are presently vacant. There is no sense rehashing year old issues involving the firing of Logan, as those responsible are gone. The Pirate Club did assist with financial incentives for Logan over many years, but could have done nothing to stop his firing. I hope Mr. Garvin has not waited all year to make his feelings known to the Pirate Club, and the total university.

ECU athletics have not been hijacked. Interim Chancellor Shelton is a strong supporter of our athletic program. Interim Athletic Director Nick Floyd has quickly restored morale and provided steady leadership to the department. Searches are underway to identify the best candidates to fill these critical positions. The Board of Trustees and the Search Committees are keenly aware of the importance of the ECU athletic program to the continued growth and perception of our university.

To withhold money from the Pirate Club will only weaken the ECU athletic program. The decision is wrong, and the message is wrong. The Pirate Club is about to set records for fundraising and memberships in 2003, and must do so again in 2004.

Our role as fans is to stand up and be counted as Pirate Club members and hopefully season ticket holders. Those are concrete and measurable actions which clearly demonstrate support, and fund the scholarships which allow ECU to compete. We don’t yet fund all the scholarships allowed by the NCAA, so we need more Pirate fans to come on board now.

Don’t be blinded by Mr. Garvin’s passionate frustration, or your disappointment with this past football season. We are a great university and a great athletic program that has experienced some tough times, but we will be back in football under John Thompson, and soon. We are the Pirates of ECU!

Dave Englert (ECU ’75)
Chesapeake, VA

Editor's note: Mr. Englert's letter exceeds our published guideline that letters be limited to no more than 350 words. In this case, we made an exception. Such exceptions for the sake of retaining a letter's theme are made solely at the discretion of the editor.

Philip Garvin
December 4, 2003

I gotta tell you, Henry Hinton's article about the firing of college coaches is dead on. For Cincinnati to fire Minter is ridiculous. For Solich to be fired at Nebraska is stupid. And as we all know, the firing of Steve Logan was the biggest mistake of all time, and his subsequent treatment was embarrassing.

A while back, a fan made the case that the past is the past and we should not pull our funds from the Pirate club if we are true fans.

That is a bunch of bull####. That is the one avenue we have to be able to impact Pirate athletics. The Pirate club, as an organization, has the ability to exert influence on the chancellor and athletic director.

It is time we let the Pirate club know that we are unhappy with how the athletics department at East Carolina University has been handled, and that we are unhappy with the fact that the Pirate club DID NOTHING TO STOP THE FIRING OF LOGAN.

Now we have the worst football team in division 1-A. Oh, I'm sorry, Army is 6 points worse than us. That is something to be proud of.

STOP FUNDING THE PIRATE CLUB and stand up for those of us who feel that Pirate athletics have been hijacked. I would urge Cincinnati and Nebraska alumni to do the same.

Philip Garvin (ECU '89)
Cherry Hill, NJ

Tom Roupas
December 4, 2003

This is in response to the recent news broken by Henry Hinton that as part of Steve Logan's termination he was banned from East Carolina University's campus. I believe that Interim Chancellor Shelton should issue Coach Logan an immediate apology for this ridiculous and uncalled for banishment, and at the same time issue a directive that the banishment be lifted TODAY.

Was it not questionable enough that he was fired after taking ECU to 5 bowl games (including 3 of his last 4 seasons), winning the Liberty Bowl Alliance Championship twice, finishing second in Conference USA three times, staying at ECU for 14 seasons despite numerous opportunities to leave, never having a losing record in C-USA, having one of the highest graduation rates in the country, and running an impeccably clean program?

What possible rationale could there be to not allow Coach Logan on campus?

As football coach at East Carolina, Steve Logan represented everything that is right about college athletics, and the development of student-athletes. My alma mater needs to rectify this wrong immediately.

Tom Roupas (ECU '84)
Fayetteville, NC

Steve Brock
November 9, 2003

ECU stayed an independent many years in hopes of entering the Big East conference. When those doors didn't open, we joined Conference USA — and even without a football conference championship, I don't think that anyone would argue that we have been very successful in our current conference over the years.

Now that the landscape has shifted — both from a conference and ECU administration standpoint — I believe it is time to set our sights to greater heights. I'm talking of none other than one of the premier football conferences in the country — the SEC.

No, it will not happen overnight, and certainly our recent football records don't help with our case. But some things are already lining up in that direction — the new football coaches and their ties to this conference. The SEC could also benefit by adding one more state to its territory. Vanderbilt would be an excellent target for replacement.

I propose this as the vision that should be cast.

I'm looking forward to the next few years, with a new Conference USA football championship game. But I'm also looking to the day when we can open up the paper and it says 'ECU Joins SEC.' Then, we'll see the Big East and ACC teams scrambling to get onto our schedule!

Next steps? We have 2 key positions — a chancellor and an athletic director — which could be filled with SEC influentials. We could also take a renewed focus on scheduling SEC teams such as South Carolina — a former rivalry which would not take much to be rekindled.

Steve Brock (ECU '88)
Apex, NC

Jon Rogers
November 5, 2003

To say that letting Steve Logan go was a big mistake by East Carolina University is to make a huge understatement. I need not remind everyone of what Logan accomplished while at ECU, but I will take a moment to do just that.

Logan took the team to five bowl games and posted wins over BCS schools Miami, Syracuse, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Stanford, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, NC State, Temple, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech. Meanwhile, he led the team to winning records within Conference USA every year. In addition, let us not forget that Texas Christian University has won 18 of its last 19 games. The only flaw on that record... East Carolina under head coach Steve Logan.

Despite losing such a talented coach and leader, the Pirate Nation must not focus on things they have no control over. Instead, Pirate fans must concentrate on doing what they have always done... exhibiting a level of pride and enthusiasm in their team that everyone else notices. Though this year has been quite frustrating, we must look at the promising future that lies ahead for ECU football.

Next year, East Carolina will see the return of Art Brown at tailback.
Marvin Townes will also return and he has proved that he can be a threat receiving. The vertical passing game will look to get better as Desmond Robinson and Paul Troth will have to compete with James Pinkney, Patrick Dosh (Florida Gator transfer), and a high school blue-chip recruit from Olympic High School in Charlotte. In addition, Juwon Crowell will be given the chance to develop as a wideout. If he's anything like his brother (Germaine Crowell, Detroit Lions), then we have a lot to smile about.

We have lost a lot, and we are all suffering from the loss of Coach Logan, the snub by the Big East, and the setbacks on the field. But we have a promising future in a very nicely reorganized conference that centers around football. The Pirates will return, I have no doubt about that...

I just hope that return will be ushered in by passionate fans.

Jon Rogers (ECU '01)
Alexandria, VA

Andy Bayliss
November 5, 2003

In response to Robert W. McDowell's letter dated November 3, 2003, I hope he doesn't come back. I may not agree with all of the changes and recent decisions made by the past or current administration or staff, but one thing is not going to change. My degree came from East Carolina University and I am damn proud of it. I am a Pirate and will always be a Pirate. My contributions of time and money to the support of the university are for the betterment of the school and its students.

This is the time we need to bond together and see this ship thru this stormy period. Not come out and play only when the forecast is clear.

I for one am sick of hearing people make comments like "I am not giving any more money to the Pirate Club" because of the coach's decisions or their favorite player not starting. If this was the case, you should have been giving your money to the Steve Logan Fund instead of the Pirate Club. Why punish the university for decisions that you may not agree on? We do not need your "closet fan" type of support.

And you, sir, are no True Pirate.

The "Dumber Cluck" has been discovered.

Andy Bayliss (ECU '86)
New Bern, NC

Robert W. McDowell
November 3, 2003

After East Carolina's all-too-familiar second-half collapse against Memphis, Coach John Thompson said the Tigers must have "smelled blood." ... J.T., the Pirates' 2003 opponents smell blood when the first Pirate steps off the team bus outside the stadium.

This is a CRIPPLED team, one that Thompson has deliberately HAMSTRUNG by stubbornly insisting on starting last year's backup quarterback in every game, no matter how badly he plays. Rather than build this year's team around the strengths of the returning players, Thompson has chosen to ignore those strengths and subject Pirate Nation to an ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY season of grief and pain.

This fact alone should cost him his job.

Benching Paul Troth — and thereby guaranteeing an uncompetitive season — is just the biggest bonehead move of Thompson's disastrous tenure. Calling two timeouts at the end of the Louisville game, down TWO scores, is another. 250 words is not enough to list the myriad instances of arrogance and stupidity that have characterized the Thompson tenure.

If there is a dumber cluck coaching in Division 1-A, I don't know who it is.

What I do know is that, at the most important time in its football history, East Carolina is NONCOMPETITIVE, even against mediocre teams. All the grudging respect that it took the Pirates decades to earn is gone. ECU is once again the punchline for a Brent Musburger joke — or worse.

As a Pirate Club member and long-time football season-ticket holder, I, for one, have had ENOUGH. If John Thompson returns in 2004, I won't.

Robert W. McDowell (ECU '70)
Raleigh, NC

Stephen Dew
October 26, 2003

Concerning Mr. Easley's input to our conference affiliation:

Every person interested in the well being of ECU and eastern NC should be insulted and gravely concerned that our governor decided to speak up on ECU's behalf to the Big East but remained silent to the ACC.

It certainly seems to underscore the second class citizen feeling that eastern NC and ECU have.

Stephen Dew (ECU '86)
Kernersville, NC

Dan Antonelli
October 14, 2003

In reference to Greg Zittel's letter, why don't we go ahead and blame Steve Logan for the war in Iraq? After all, Logan was the guilty party who plagued East Carolina with was several winning seasons and bowl bids. Not to mention, his devilish propensity to send players to the NFL. Damn him. The nerve of Logan, to believe in the athletes that North Carolina produces and dare to take on the rest of the country with them.

It was so hard to "bare" trips to play Miami, only to watch the Pirates win the games. Logan had no guts. I mean, during Hurricane Floyd, he only rallied a group of young men, some of whom lost their homes, to back to back wins over South Carolina and Miami. ECU actually won an Espy that year for that victory against adversity. How could you remember that though, because the introspective Logan rarely tooted his own horn.

Enough with the sarcasm. While I completely support Coach John Thompson and the current staff at ECU, I can not let Logan bashers go on without defending a coach that gave me and them incredible memories. How short are their memories? Do they not recollect what it was like before Logan? Other than that special 1991 season, when Logan served as offensive coordinator and mentor to Jeff Blake, the Pirates had not produced a winning season since 1983 and had averaged about 3.6 wins per year during that period.

Logan as a head coach gave us great years — as well as his heart, soul, and his loyalty. This in a profession where upward mobility is the name of the game and "get it when you can" reigns supreme. Logan decided to stay in Greenville and stitch some fabric. For the fans and players, he was truly a "what you see is what you get" type of guy. And what we got from Logan was an enormous contribution to the substance and success of the program.

I will conclude with a quote worth remembering:

"A devil you do know is better than a devil you don't."

Dan Antonelli (ECU '96)
Raleigh, NC

Greg Zittel
October 13, 2003

Teresa Morris's letter missed one salient point. While she calls for a grassroots effort to bring back Steve Logan, she doesn't get that Logan's demise was brought about by a grassroots effort. In the end, this talented man only has himself to blame and the "big fat check" that he spoke of to spend.

Where was Teresa's outrage when game after game the half-time lead was blown? Where was Teresa when Steve refused to recruit outside the state? Where was Teresa when, after it became clear that not only were we no longer casting a wide net in recruiting, we weren't doing anything about our defense which had become obvious and porous to all?

Where was Teresa when the faithful clamored for answers, only to get arrogance from a coach who, although hampered by an arrogant athletic director, didn't have the ability to communicate? Where was Teresa when David Garrard seemingly didn't grow in his talent as a quarterback and played as a senior the same as he did when a sophomore?

Where was Teresa? I don't know, perhaps with "Waldo," but maybe she forgot to voice her outrage then when Pirates were outraged. The current effort is hampered by years of poor recruiting and a new coaching staff that had to go back and teach these players fundamentals that they'd never gotten because they were learning new "trick" plays that no one was tricked by.

My conscience is clear and Teresa's patience and understanding is needed while this new regime brings order to what had become nonfunctioning chaos.

Greg Zittel
ECU Alumnus
New York, NY

Mark Griffin
October 12, 2003

I thought Teresa Morris's letter was right on the mark. I too was outraged when Steve Logan was fired. I sent letters to the since-departed AD and others as well.

Although I believe John Thompson will ultimately be successful, the damage done to our program will take years to reverse. The damage was not in the win and loss column but the substance of the program. We sold out like other college football programs have done and in the process we lost what made Pirate football something to be passionate about.

Steve Logan understood Eastern North Carolina, he understood what this university means to Eastern North Carolina — the struggle for respect, the hard fought battles and the ultimate success. That has been wiped out by simple greed. Winning by writing checks and by ignoring loyalty is no win at all.

And one last thing, let's have our new chancellor concentrate on East Carolina University and not so much on football. We do not need anymore black eyes because of our greed for football.

Mark Griffin (ECU '88)
Raleigh, NC

Teresa Morris
October 10, 2003

Back in my day, East Carolina had a coach that changed the face of Pirate football. Coach “Stas” took our out-of-the-way farming and fishing region’s team to a new level that doubters across I-95 thought impossible. When he stepped off the field in 1969, he left some mighty big shoes to fill.

In ’92, ECU finally found a coach who could fill those shoes, Steve Logan. Logan was more than a football coach. He was a role model, he inspired people and he made himself  one with the community.

Logan believed in East Carolina — not just the school, but the region. He made a point to pick the best he could from East Carolina high schools, even the most rural ones. Earning a shot to play for HIS team became a real motivation for boys throughout the region to strive to be one of the chosen ones.

My son, Sam, attended Logan's football camp a couple of summers ago. He dreamt of one day suiting up for the Pirates. But at the end of last year, I saw my boy's soul-desire to play football for ECU evaporate... learning Coach Logan would no longer be there to lead the team… and discerning no logical reason for such a drastic upheaval.

Logan had been the coach since Sam was old enough to know what football was. He was a tradition at East Carolina. When he left, that tradition, sadly, went with him.

So tell me... where's the collective conscience of ECU fans, knowing they played a part, by their silence, in letting Logan be pushed aside by bureaucratic manipulators, now departed and discredited? Where was the cry of support? The outrage?

Unlike some before him, Logan didn’t abandon East Carolina when he achieved success. Yet, when he hit a bump in the road, he was cast aside... and those in a position to stop it stood by and let it happen.

At best, it was a stupid move by ECU administrators. At worst, it was a malicious one.

So here's what I think... ECU fans — especially you old-timers who can actually relate to the legacy of Stas — should raise a ruckus that can’t be ignored. As Pirate fans we need to exercise our backbones rather than just picking at a wishbone.

We need to start a grassroots movement — something as simple as a petition drive — to do what might seem impossible — BRING BACK LOGAN!

If that doesn’t work, we should look to California for lessons on what to do about arrogant, incompetent, indifferent or out-of-touch leadership.

I honestly think we can right this wrong if WE BELIEVE.

Teresa Morris
Emerald Isle, NC

[ Note: The submission did not meet all of the published guidelines for Letters to the Editor. It exceeds the suggested limit of 250 words. In this case, however, Bonesville.net has made an exception in the spirit which this open forum is intended to nurture on behalf of all sides of a controversial issue. Such exceptions will be rare and shall always be made solely at the discretion of the editor. — Editor]

Phil Garvin
October 3, 2003

Isn't it time we stop talking about, hoping and praying for Big East membership?

We need to realize just who we are and where we belong. We are a regional institution in a small market. Even if we make the case for our market including cities such as Raleigh, and regions such as southern Virginia, the case could easily be made that those markets are diluted by the number of other institutions that are within the same market.

HASN"T EAST CAROLINA FOOTBALL BEEN GREAT BECAUSE OF OUR FANS AND OUR SUPPORT? WHY ARE WE SO CONCERNED WITH HOW THE REST OF THE WORLD PERCEIVES US?

If we concentrate on supporting our team, then recruits will come here because our stadium is full and our fans are supportive. If the recruits come here, then we will win and be successful. East Carolina, like Southern Miss, has always been about playing good football and enjoying the college atmosphere.

The hell with the Big East, the ACC and the BCS. We may not get rich in Conference USA, but we have a good, competitive conference that will continue to upset the big boys.

C'mon people, isn't that the essence of East Carolina. Let N.C. State and UNC think we are lower class. That's what makes it so much fun when we beat them.

Phil Garvin (ECU '89)
Cherry Hill, NJ

Shannon Boling
October 1, 2003

Hello, Pirate fans! I had an opportunity to watch the Houston ballgame and to pick out a positive. I would have to say that I was impressed with the defense. I know we gave up the long ball for a TD twice, and then towards the end, the speed option, which we all know went for 6.

But, the guys on defense were out on the field a long, long time. Three and out always helps, but I'd prefer those situations occur on defense, not our offense!

For all of the Pirates out there who have been on the losing end AND have to suit back up and practice and prepare for the remainder of the season, its is very difficult. I know its going to be a long road to recovery, but we owe it to the players and to the future of Pirate athletics to stay positive and support them.

Shannon Boling (ECU '89)
Football Letterman ('85-'88)
Asheville, NC

Robert W. McDowell
September 26, 2003

As a proud East Carolina alumnus and a dual football season-ticket holder at ECU and UNC-Chapel Hill, I have attended 6-12 games yearly for the past 30 years. I have seen the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of college football in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. But I have never seen anything quite as Pitiful as the 2003 Pirates: four games, four drubbings; outscored 160 to 29.

In just 20 days under new coach John Thompson, the Pirates have gone from being a perennial Conference USA championship contender to being the laughingstock of Division 1-A. Whatever Steve Logan's faults were as a coach, at least his teams were COMPETITIVE.

Benching last year's starting quarterback, blue-chip recruit Paul Troth, in favor of Desmond Robinson is a real head-scratcher. Robinson bobbles center snaps, botches handoffs, fumbles the ball on contact, and throws SEVEN interceptions and ZERO touchdown passes in four games. What does he have to do to lose his job?

With Robinson at quarterback, ECU probably has only ONE chance to win this season — if the Army Cadets self-destruct Oct. 18 in the battle between the two weakest sisters in C-USA. Otherwise, 0-12 is a distinct possibility.

Replacing Steve Logan with John Thompson was the worst personnel decision since Eddie Fisher dumped Debbie Reynolds for Elizabeth Taylor. If ECU doesn't show DRAMATIC improvement in the next eight games, I say FIRE Thompson. Why let the John Thompson Pirates become the football equivalent of the Les Robinson Wolfpack?

Robert W. McDowell (ECU '70)
Raleigh, NC

LEE ALLEN
September 11, 2003

Coach Logan never lost to Miami and he never played them in Greenville. Enough said.

Lee Allen (ECU '89)
Greenville, NC

GREG ZITTEL
September 10, 2003

Army Officer Bob Jones takes a long distance view from Germany, saying that hiring John Thompson was a mistake, and his opinion is far from the truth. In the same day, Al Myatt uses a cheap attention getting technique for his article by first implying that it would have been better to keep Logan, and ending his piece by saying it is better to focus on the future.

For those who forgot, we were in a slide for up to five years and Logan had refused to recruit out of state. Our slide had become predictable and inevitable. Logan sealed his own fate and firing him was clearly the right thing to do.

Now, operating with Logan's players, and teaching new systems on offense and defense, JT hasn't performed any miracles and some are screaming like stuck pigs.

We're all in pain. This isn't going to be an easy transition. But using Logan as a cure, and threatening JT after two games is hysterical and gives EC's enemies just reason to criticize us.

Suck it up, show up, sign up, and cough up. This is a time for each Pirate's strengths, not weaknesses.

Greg Zittel (ECU alumnus)
New York, NY

BOB JONES
September 7, 2003

(Editor's note: This letter was addressed to Denny O'Brien.)

Denny,

I am an Army Officer stationed in Germany (ECU Class of '89). Letting Steve Logan go was a huge mistake. Coach Logan gave Pirate fans everywhere a great program and something to be proud about. My gut feeling on Coach Thompson will be two miserable seasons and he will resign, but the real long term damage will be the ECU football program will take so many steps backwards it will take the new coach years to turn the (pirate) ship around.

Well, I retire in 2009 and will make my home in Eastern N.C.  I hope by then there is something in Dowdy-Ficklen to be proud of.

Bob Jones
Major, U.S. Army
Wurzburg, Germany

TED DUNLAP
July 29, 2003

(Editor's note: This letter was addressed to Brian Bailey.)

Hi, Brian,

My name is Ted Dunlap and though we've met a few times, you probably wouldn't remember me (though if you ever read Boneyard Banter, I post as Annapolis Pirate).

I wanted to take a quick moment and tell you how much I enjoyed your article today on Bonesville.net about high school football. As we transition through our adult lives, it is nice to look back on some of our formative years with a smile. Your wistful remembrance made me think of some of my own fun times in high school (the Old Rose High) and at ECU. Thanks for writing such vivid prose that causes your readers to share a smile or a tear. A very nice change of pace from some of the overdone sports stories of the summer.

By the way, your writing reminded me of a noted boating/sailing author named Chris Caswell. He has recurring articles in Sailing magazine as well as others. If you ever have the chance to read his work, I hope you will take my comparison as a very sincere compliment.

Keep up the good work!

Ted Dunlap
Edgewater, MD

DAVE ENGLERT
June 14, 2003

With regard to the letter from Greg Zittel concerning the atmosphere at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and the cost of tickets, I would like to hear more about what caused him to come to that conclusion.

I've attended all but four Pirate home games since 1971, and have attended road games at a minimum of 25 other colleges in those 32 years, and that is certainly not my impression. Yes, there is occasionally some excessive drinking, but it is rare. I would not hesitate for one second to report someone to the stadium security if they were a problem.

As far as the cost, tickets cost less for East Carolina home games than what I pay to go to watch ECU at places like West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, UNC, and Miami, for example. It is certainly an expensive hobby, no doubt. With six kids, I can appreciate some interest by Mr. Zittel in lower prices. Until we are selling out our stadium, perhaps ECU could consider one section for family discount tickets, or establish one game for a family discount.

Dave Englert
Chesapeake, VA

[ Click here to view the Letter to the Editor to which Mr. Englert's comments are directed. It was submitted June 10, 2003, by Greg Zittel. — Editor ]

GREG ZITTEL
June 10, 2003

I have a question and you guys are the authority. Why would there be a sentiment by a Pirate alum that says he and his six children aren't welcome to Dowdy-Ficklen due to the drunken demeanor of the fans, alums and students, as well as the cost of the tics?

Is there no family deal? Is there no decent respect for Pirate families who might want to enthrall their kids in Pirate magic? Hope to hear from you on this.

Greg Zittel
New York, NY

[ During his days as a student at East Carolina, Greg reports that he played football for Coach Clarence Stasavich's Pirates in 1965. Responses from readers, especially from ECU athletic department officials who might be able to satisfy Greg's query, are welcomed in this 'Letters' forum. — Editor ]

BRUCE LEVITT
May 21, 2003

I just wanted to say that I thought Danny Whitford's article on the ACC-Big East mess was dead on and extremely well written. As a Syracuse alum and big sports fan living in Georgia, it would be exciting to have my team playing in the region, but this whole episode is disgusting.

It hurts to have your enthusiasm for college sports steadily chipped away by dishonesty, stupidity and greed. At some point there will be no enthusiasm left to chip. I am hoping against hope that the Big East teams involved step up and say "bite me" to the ACC.

Bruce Levitt
Syracuse '71
Atlanta, GA

PAUL HUTCHINS
April 29, 2003

My name is Paul Hutchins. I played football at East Carolina from 1964-68. I also was an assistant coach for the 1968 freshman football team, assisting Bill Cain.

I like your website and articles very much, visiting it daily. I have a complaint though, too many pop up ads. Some of the ads are very hard to delete. Please clean up your act.

Paul Hutchins
Poolesville, MD

[ It's always a pleasure to hear from a former Pirate football player, especially one from the Stasavich era. Regarding the pop up ads, we realize it is an annoyance at times. But the alternative for us — considering the substantial costs involved in operating Bonesville.net — is to start charging a subscription fee. Input from readers would be welcomed about the pros and cons of a reasonable subscription fee that would enable us to deep-six the pop-up ads. — Editor ]

Thanks for your profile of former Pirate receiver Terry Gallagher. I graduated from ECU in 1978 and knew Terry while in school. He was a great guy and a good friend to a lot of people. I have fond memories of him and all of the Pat Dye players that made it such a great time for Pirate fans. I am glad to see Terry is doing well and also glad to see someone with less hair than me!

Dennis Ramsey
ECU 1978
Las Vegas, NV